India Edge New Zealand in Thrilling T20 Chase to Take 2-0 Lead

Tilak Varma struck a brutal half-century as India powered to a thrilling four-wicket win over New Zealand in the second T20 on Saturday for a 2-0 series lead.

The tourists scored 68 runs from the last 4.5 overs in Christchurch to clinch victory with a ball to spare, having looked down and out when they were reduced to 70-5 in the 11th over, in pursuit of 181.

Tilak carved 51 not out off 26 balls while Nitish Kumar Reddy struck the winning runs in an unbeaten 26 off 13 to hand India control of the five-match series.

The result matched their four-wicket win in the opening match at the same Hagley Oval venue two days earlier, which was achieved with two balls to spare.

New Zealand’s bowling was vastly improved, led by captain Mitchell Santner, who took 4-21 through the middle stages as India’s top order failed to match their dynamic batting from game one.

Spinner Santner claimed the scalp of dangerous opener Abhishek Sharma for 27 in his first over and Naman Dhir for 31 in his fourth to have the tourists teetering at 112-6.

Glenn Phillips scored his second straight half-century as New Zealand recovered from 41-3 to post 180-5, striking four sixes in his 70 off 43 balls alongside Bevon Jacobs' 58.

Seamer Arshdeep Singh was India’s best bowler taking 2-33, while game three of the series is scheduled in Wellington on Tuesday.